3 arrested for alleged role in Norwich paintball attacks

Izaskun E. Larraņeta

Norwich — Police arrested three people this week on charges that they shot people, including a pregnant woman, with paintballs on Halloween night and on several days in early November.

Police said they received several complaints from people who said they were struck with paintballs. The assaults took place on Halloween night, Nov. 2 and Nov. 6.

The victims told police that they were walking on the streets when occupants in a moving car fired paintballs at them.

During one of the incidents, a pregnant woman trick-or-treating with her children was shot at and hit.

The trio also fired paintballs at a dog. Police said the victims sustained minor injuries during the attacks.

Officer Joel Ethier conducted hours of interviews and obtained search warrants to seize paintball guns and equipment as well as surveillance video of the suspects buying the gun on Halloween night.

As a result, the following were arrested:

Keith Robinson, 18, of 16 Franklin St. was charged Sunday with nine counts of conspiracy to commit second-degree assault, second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit second-degree assault on a pregnant person, conspiracy to commit animal cruelty, three counts of conspiracy to commit risk of injury to a minor, 12 counts of conspiracy to discharge an air gun and unlawful discharge of an air gun.

Jaquontee Reels, 18, of 38 Coachman Place, Ledyard, was charged Monday with nine counts of conspiracy to commit second-degree assault, three counts of conspiracy to commit risk of injury to a minor, three counts of conspiracy to commit reckless endangerment, conspiracy to commit animal cruelty and 13 counts of conspiracy to commit unlawful discharge of an air gun.

Tevin Merrill, 19, of 2 Wolf Ridge Gap, Ledyard, was charged Tuesday with two counts of conspiracy to commit second-degree assault, conspiracy to commit second-degree assault on a pregnant person, three counts of conspiracy to commit first-degree reckless endangerment and six counts of conspiracy to commit unlawful discharge of an air gun.

Robinson and Reels are out on a $25,000 bond and are scheduled to appear in Norwich Superior Court on Dec. 19.

Merrill was held in lieu of a $10,000 bond pending his arraignment Tuesday in Norwich Superior Court.